Osteoarthritis – less pain. More life.

31 Million people in the United States suffer from osteoarthritis (OA). One in every two people will develop it by age 85. What are the causes of this joint disorder? How can it be prevented? And, what are the options for pain relief?

Osteoarthritis is the result of years of excessive joint strain and cartilage damage. It can also be triggered as a result of previous injury, such as a meniscus or ligament injury or the result of congenital deformity of the joints.

Obesity, nicotine, and alcohol abuse increase the probability of developing osteoarthritis. Age, gender, and race can also play a role.

Multiple treatment options exist, but many healthcare experts see a gap in early knee osteoarthritis intervention.

Ottobock offers a variety of conservative treatment options to help relieve pain, help reduce over-the-counter and prescription drug use, help prevent further joint damage, and help delay surgical intervention. Our goal is to help patients live with less pain and more life.

Frequently asked questions

Agilium Freestep is an ankle foot orthosis that offers dynamic off-loading of the knee joint to promote increased mobility and delay surgery for individuals with mild to moderate medial or lateral unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis.

Traditionally, knee osteoarthritis pain is treated with off-loading knee braces, which can be bulky and heavy. Unlike traditional off-loading knee braces, the Agilium Freestep is applied to the foot instead of the knee. The Agilium Freestep provides targeted relief for the damaged cartilage in the knee by changing the load line of the knee, which is where the body weight has the greatest impact on the cartilage.

The Agilium Freestep has been shown to reduce pain and stiffness resulting from knee osteoarthritis and increase function. It has been found to be as effective as a knee brace without the typical adverse effects of a knee brace. It is ideal for everyday pain relief

The Agilium Freestep was designed for medial and lateral unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis. The majority of individuals with knee osteoarthritis have a medial indication, which means the bones are creating pressure on the inside of the knee joint. People with a medial indication are typically bow-legged. A small percentage of individuals have lateral knee osteoarthritis, which means their bones are rubbing on the outside of the knee joint. These people are typically knock-kneed.

A physician’s prescription is required for Agilium Freestep. Generally speaking, your primary care physician, rheumatologist, or orthopedic surgeon will prescribe the Agilium. If your insurance covers new technology like the Agilium Freestep, your physician may need to provide documentation to show that the device is medically necessary.